Food Service_State - public use version
Form Approved
OMB No: 0920-0445
Expiration Date: 11/30/2008
Food Service
State Questionnaire
Food Service
State Questionnaire
Questions
Staffing and Staff Development 1 - 5
Collaboration 6 - 7
Evaluation 8
Food Service and Child Nutrition
Requirements and Recommendations 9 - 38
State Assistance to Districts
and Schools 39 - 40
State Food Service Director 41 - 55
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NOTE: THROUGHOUT THIS QUESTIONNAIRE, TEXT THAT APPEARS IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS WILL NOT BE READ ALOUD TO RESPONDENTS.
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READ THE QUESTIONS ALOUD AND TYPE RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONS INTO THE COMPUTER. THE INTERVIEW PROGRAM WILL
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INTERVIEW ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS PRINTED VERSION OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE.
1. This questionnaire focuses on your state’s policies and practices regarding food service.
2. When I use the word “policy,” I mean any law, rule, regulation, administrative order, or similar kind of
mandate issued by the state board of education, state legislature, or other state agency with authority
over schools in your state. I am most interested in what is required by the state, not what is recommended
or contained in non-binding guidance documents, unless the question specifically asks about recommendations.
3. If a state policy is worded in such a way that it requires districts or schools to develop and adopt their own policies on a given topic, for the purpose of this questionnaire please consider it the same as a statewide requirement.
4. I recognize that the state may sometimes grant policy exceptions or waivers, but please answer each question based on what is considered the general policy and standard practice.
5. Please do not consider district or school practices or policies when answering the questions. We will ask about district and school practices and policies when we collect information from districts and schools across the country.
The first set of questions that I will be asking are about staffing and staff development for food service staff.
1. Has your state adopted a policy stating that each district will have someone to oversee or coordinate food service in the district, such as a district food service director?
Yes 1
No 2
2. Does your state offer certification, licensure, or endorsement to district food service directors?
Yes 1
No 2
3. Has your state adopted a policy stating that each school will have someone to oversee or coordinate
food service at the school, such as a school food service manager?
Yes 1
No 2
4. Does your state offer certification, licensure, or endorsement to school food service managers?
Yes 1
No 2
My next questions are about staff development, which might include workshops, conferences, continuing education, graduate courses, or any other kind of in-service.
5. During the past two years, has your state provided funding for or offered staff development to food service staff on…
Yes No
a. Menu planning for healthy meals? 1 2
b. Cultural diversity in meal planning? 1 2
c. Implementing the Dietary Guidelines for Americans in
school meals? 1 2
d. Using the cafeteria for nutrition education? 1 2
e. Food service for students with special dietary needs? 1 2
f. Selecting and ordering food? 1 2
g. Healthy food preparation methods? 1 2
h. Increasing the percentage of students participating in
school meals? 1 2
i. Making school meals more appealing? 1 2
j. Customer service? 1 2
k. Competitive food[LG1] policies to create a healthy
food environment? 1 2
l. Financial management? 1 2
m. Personnel management? 1 2
n. Facility design and layout, including
equipment selection? 1 2
o. Food safety[a2]? 1 2
p. Procedures for food-related emergencies such as choking or
severe food allergy reactions? 1 2
q. Emergency preparedness? 1 2
r. Using Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points or HACCP? 1 2
s. Food bio-security, that is, the prevention of intentional
contamination of food to cause illness? 1 2
t. Procedures for responding to food recalls? 1 2
u. Personal safety for food service staff? 1 2
Now I will be asking about state food service staff collaboration with other groups.
6a. During the past 12 months, have state-level child nutrition or food service
staff worked on[LG4] school food service or nutrition activities with state-level school health education staff?
Yes 1
No 2
State does not have state-level school
health education staff 3
6b. What about with state-level physical education staff?
Yes 1
No 2
State does not have state-level physical
education staff 3
6c. What about with state-level school health services staff?[LG6]
Yes 1
No 2
State does not have state-level school
health services staff 3
6d. What about with state-level school mental
health or social services staff?
Yes 1
No 2
State does not have state-level school mental
health or social services staff 3
7. During the past 12 months, have state food service staff worked on[LG8] school food service or nutrition
activities with staff or members from…
Yes No
a. Action for Healthy Kids? 1 2
b. The state department of agriculture? 1 2
c. The state-level School Nutrition Association? 1 2
d. A state-level health organization, such as the American Heart
Association or the American Cancer Society? 1 2
e. A food commodity organization, such as the Dairy Council or
state produce growers association? 1 2
f. A state-level school nurses’ association? 1 2
g. A state-level physicians’ organization, such as the American
Academy of Pediatrics? 1 2
h. Colleges or universities? 1 2
i. Businesses? 1 2
The next questions ask about different aspects of the school food service program that the state might have
evaluated during the past two years.
8a. During the past two years, has the state evaluated district or school food service staff compliance
with government regulations and recommendations?
Yes 1
No 2
8b. What about the number of students participating in the food service program?
Yes 1
No 2
8c. What about the nutritional quality of school meals?
Yes 1
No 2
8d. What about food service management practices?
Yes 1
No 2
8e. What about the amount of plate waste?
Yes 1
No 2
8f. What about food service staff development or in-service programs?
Yes 1
No 2
8g. What about food safety[LG10] procedures?
Yes 1
No 2
The next set of questions will ask about food service and child nutrition requirements and recommendations in your state.
9. Has your state adopted a policy stating that schools will offer breakfast to students?
Yes, all schools 1
Yes, some categories of schools, such as
those with a certain percentage of students
eligible for free or reduced-price meals 2
No 3
10. Has your state adopted a policy stating that schools will encourage breakfast consumption by allowing students
to eat in locations other than the cafeteria, such as the school bus or classroom?
Yes 1
No 2
11. Does your state require or recommend a minimum amount of time students will be given to eat breakfast once they are seated?
Require 1
Recommend 2
Neither 3
My next questions ask about food items that might be offered to students. When I say “appealing,” I mean food items
that are acceptable to a majority of students as indicated by some kind of evaluation, such as analysis of plate waste
or student choices.
12. Does your state require or recommend that schools offer students at least one appealing fruit each day
for breakfast?
Require 1
Recommend 2
Neither 3
13. Does your state require or recommend that schools offer students at least one appealing low-fat or non-fat dairy
product, including milk, each day for breakfast?
Require 1
Recommend 2
Neither 3
14. Does your state require or recommend that schools offer students 3 or more different types of milk, for example,
1% chocolate milk or skim unflavored milk, each day for breakfast?
Require 1
Recommend 2
Neither 3
15. Has your state adopted a policy stating that schools will offer lunch to students?
Yes 1
No 2
16. Does your state require or recommend a minimum amount of time students will be given to eat lunch once they
are seated?
Require 1
Recommend 2
Neither 3
17. Does your state require or recommend that schools offer students at least one appealing fruit each day for lunch?
Require 1
Recommend 2
Neither 3
18. Does your state require or recommend that schools offer students at least one appealing non-fried vegetable
each day for lunch?
Require 1
Recommend 2
Neither 3
19. Does your state require or recommend that schools offer students at least one appealing low-fat or non-fat
dairy product, including milk, each day for lunch?
Require 1
Recommend 2
Neither 3
20. Does your state require or recommend that schools offer students 3 or more different types of milk, for
example, 1% chocolate milk or skim unflavored milk, each day for lunch?
Require 1
Recommend 2
Neither 3
21. Does your state require or recommend that schools offer students a choice between the following items each
day for lunch?
Require Recommend Neither
a. 2 or more different entrees or main courses 1 2 3
b. 2 or more different non-fried vegetables 1 2 3
c. 2 or more different fruits or types of 100% fruit juice 1 2 3
22. Does your state require or recommend that schools offer students 5 or more foods containing whole grain
each week during breakfast or lunch?
Require 1
Recommend 2
Neither 3
My next question asks about the availability of junk foods in schools. Junk foods are foods or beverages that have
low nutrient density, that is they provide calories primarily through fats or added sugars and have minimal amounts of
vitamins and minerals.
23. Does your state require or recommend that schools be prohibited from offering junk foods…
Require Recommend Neither
a. A la carte during breakfast or lunch periods? 1 2 3
b. At student parties? 1 2 3
c. In after-school or extended day programs? 1 2 3
d. At staff meetings? 1 2 3
e. At meetings attended by students’ family members? 1 2 3
f. In school stores, canteens, or snack bars? 1 2 3
g. In vending machines? 1 2 3
h. At concession stands? 1 2 3
24. Does your state require or recommend that schools make fruits or vegetables available to students whenever other
food is offered or sold, for example at school parties or in school stores?
Require 1
Recommend 2
Neither 3
25. Does your state require or recommend that schools make healthful beverages such as bottled water or low-fat
milk available to students whenever other beverages are offered or sold, for example at school parties or in
school stores?
Require 1
Recommend 2
Neither 3
26. Does your state require or recommend that schools limit the package or serving size of food or beverage items,
for example a maximum weight for a cookie?
Require 1
Recommend 2
Neither 3
27. Does your state require or recommend that schools restrict the availability of deep fried foods? Please answer
“require,” “recommend,” or “neither.”
Require 1
Recommend 2
Neither 3
28. Does your state require or recommend that elementary schools prohibit student access to vending machines for at
least part of the school day?
Require 1
Recommend 2
Neither 3
29. Does your state require or recommend that middle or junior high schools prohibit student access to vending
machines for at least part of the school day?
Require 1
Recommend 2
Neither 3
30. Does your state require or recommend that senior high schools prohibit student access to vending machines for
at least part of the school day?
Require 1
Recommend 2
Neither 3
31. Does your state require or recommend that schools restrict the times during the day that soda pop, sports drinks,
or fruit drinks that are not 100% juice can be sold in any venue?
Require 1
Recommend 2
Neither 3
32. Does your state require or recommend that schools restrict the times during the day that junk foods can be sold
in any venue?
Require 1
Recommend 2
Neither 3
33. Does your state require or recommend that schools prohibit junk foods[LG26] from being sold for fundraising purposes?[A27]
Require 1
Recommend 2
Neither 3
34. Does your state require or recommend that schools prohibit brand-name fast foods, for example Pizza Hut or Taco Bell, from being offered as part of school meals or as a la carte[LG28] items?[A29]
Require 1
Recommend 2
Neither 3
35. Does your state require or recommend that schools prohibit advertising for candy, fast food restaurants, or
soft drinks on school property?
Require 1
Recommend 2
Neither 3
36. Does your state require or recommend that districts or schools implement food safety practices school-wide,
that is both inside and outside the cafeteria?
Require 1
Recommend 2
Neither 3
37. Has your state adopted a policy prohibiting schools from using food or food coupons as a reward for good
behavior or good academic performance?
Yes 1-->SKIP TO THE INTRODUCTION TO Q39A
No 2
38. Does your state discourage schools from using food or food coupons as a reward for good behavior or good
academic performance?
Yes 1
No 2
Next I’m going to ask you about state assistance to districts and schools.
39a. During the past 12 months, has your state provided ideas on how to involve school food service staff in
classrooms to teach students about nutrition or healthy eating?
Yes 1
No 2
39b. During the past 12 months, has your state provided ideas on how to use the cafeteria as a place where students
might learn about food safety, food preparation, or other nutrition-related topics?
Yes 1
No 2
39c. During the past 12 months, has your state provided ideas for nutrition-related special events to teach students
about nutrition or healthy eating?
Yes 1
No 2
40. During the past two years, has your state provided model policies to districts or schools on how to promote
healthy eating among students? These model policies might address nutrition education, food service, or other
foods available at school.
Yes 1
No 2
41. Currently, does someone in your state oversee or coordinate food service for schools, for example a state food
service director or director of child nutrition?
Yes 1
No 2-->That is the last question.
Thank you very much for
taking the time to complete
this questionnaire.
42. Are you this person?
Yes 1
No 2-->That is the last question.
Thank you very much for
taking the time to complete
this questionnaire.
43. Who do you work for?
State education agency 1
State department of agriculture 2
State health agency 3
Other 4
Finally, I’m going to ask you some questions about your educational background.
44. Do you have an undergraduate degree?
Yes 1
No 2-->SKIP TO Q50
45. What did you major in?
MARK ALL THAT APPLY
Business 1
Education 2
Food service administration
or management 3
Home economics or family and
consumer sciences 4
Nutrition or dietetics 5
Other 6
46. Did you have an undergraduate minor?
Yes 1
No 2-->?SKIP TO Q48
47. What did you minor in?
MARK ALL THAT APPLY
Business 1
Education 2
Food service administration
or management 3
Home economics or family and
consumer sciences 4
Nutrition or dietetics 5
Other 6
48. Do you have a graduate degree?
Yes 1
No 2-->SKIP TO Q50
49. In what area or areas?
MARK ALL THAT APPLY
Business 1
Education 2
Food service administration
or management 3
Home economics or family and
consumer sciences 4
Nutrition or dietetics 5
Other 6
50. Have you earned the School Food Service and Nutrition Specialist credential from the School Nutrition
Association, formerly the American School Food Service Association?
Yes 1
No 2
51. Do you hold the following credentials from the American Dietetic Association?
Yes No
a. Registered Dietitian or RD 1 2
b. Registered Dietetic Technician or DTR 1 2
52. Are you a certified dietary manager?
Yes 1
No 2
53. Are you a certified food safety manager?
Yes 1
No 2-->SKIP TO Q55
54. Who are you certified by?
MARK ALL THAT APPLY
ServSafe® Food Protection Manager Certification by
the National Restaurant Association
Educational Foundation 1
Certified Professional Food Manager by Experior®
Assessments, LLC 2
Certified Food Safety Manager™ by the National
Registry of Food Safety Professionals 3
State or local health agency Food Handler's Card 4
55. Do you have any other food service certifications from a state agency or state-level professional group?
Yes 1
No 2
Thank you very much for taking the time to participate in this study.
If you would like more information about this study or would like clarification of any questions in this survey,
please call 800-287-1815.